Side Plate Arrangement For A Milling Device, Use Of A Side Plate Arrangement And Milling Device With A Side Plate Arrangement

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a side plate arrangement for a milling device, comprising a milling roller box arranged on a frame of the milling device, having a side plate whose height can be adjusted and a side plate support having a swivel bearing with a swivel axis around which the side plate can swivel against the frame in a swivel area. The present invention further relates to the use of a swivel guide and a milling machine with such a side plate arrangement. One element of the present invention is a guide curve running concentrically to the swivel axis, with the help of which the swivel movement of the side plate around the swivel axis is carried out.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of German Patent Application No. 10 2011 114 710.5, filed Sep. 30, 2011, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a side plate arrangement for a milling device, the use of such a side plate arrangement and a milling device having such a side plate arrangement. The present invention is particularly suitable for use in a cold milling machine, in particular, a road miller, a stabiliser or a recycler.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Milling machines, especially for cold milling, stabilising and/or recycling are known from the prior art, and are used primarily in road construction and open cast mining for breaking up ground materials. A typical use area of a generic milling machine is, e.g., the cutting of an asphalt surface for pavement restoration. For the milling operation, the milling machines have a working roller, whose outer shell is equipped with multiple milling tools, especially chisels. The working roller is normally arranged horizontally, transverse to the travel or working direction of the milling machines, and it rotates, depending on the operation, either in or against the working direction of the milling machine, and mills off ground material from the surface to a fixed depth (milling depth). For this, the rotating milling roller is driven during working or milling operation, along the working direction over the ground to be processed. Therefore, such milling machines are very frequently designed as special, self-propelled machines.

In order to guarantee an effective working process in such milling machines, a controlled material delivery of the milled material is normally desirable (referred to hereafter as “milled material”). Material delivery means transportation of the milled material from the milling area, for example, to get the cleanest milling bed possible, as well as the recycling of the material within the milling area, to guarantee, e.g., a good mixing. The milling roller is normally arranged inside a so-called milling roller box. The milling roller box is designed such that it delimits the workspace of the milling roller to the outward direction. Thus, the milling roller box covers the space surrounding the milling roller both upwards and laterally. In principle, it is possible to design the milling roller box as a rigid unit. However, in particular, in cases in which optimum milled material transportation from the milling roller box is desired, the use of a milling roller box with height-adjustable wall elements is advantageous, so that even for different milling depths and/or traversed obstacles such as manhole covers, milling edges, etc., a complete sealing of the milling roller box, especially to the ground, can be achieved. In the working direction in front of and behind the milling roller, the milling roller box normally comprises one cover plate each, if necessary with a material delivery aperture leading to a transportation device, for example, a conveyor belt. The sealing on the side, i.e., along the axial direction of the rotary axis of the milling roller, is provided by at least one side plate that is arranged on the milling roller box in a height-adjustable manner so that it can be adjusted to the current milling depth. For this, the side plate is mounted, for example, on the frame or on a higher fixed part of the milling roller box which is mounted fixedly with respect to the machine frame such that it can be adjusted at least partially along the vertical direction. The at least one side plate is mounted floatingly during milling operation, and it slides over the ground with a tailskid to ensure maximum sealing in the downward direction. Contrary to this, in the travel mode the at least one side plate is lifted and is not in contact with the floor to enable obstacle-free travel of the milling machine.

Practical use has shown that the earlier available side plate arrangements in certain situations achieve only unsatisfactory sealing results. This concerns, in particular, cases in which at least one side plate must overcome an edge during the milling process, as is the case, e.g., while moving the milling roller into a milling bed or while taking the side plate out of a milling bed and especially when traversing obstacles such as manhole covers for closing storm drains, manholes etc. The known side plate arrangements can be adjusted vertically. But the known support of the side plates normally has only one linear guide for height adjustment, so that the side plate can be lifted and lowered only as a whole. In particular, while overcoming an obstacle in the floor, or traversing an area in which the milling operation is temporarily not to be continued, the side plate must be lifted much earlier, or can be lowered only much later, so that in this case only very poor sealing results of the milling roller box can be achieved. The consequence can be, for example, arduous and frequently manual subsequent correction of the milling bed, such as the removal of the milled material left over. Hence, the side plate supports known from the prior art are frequently characterised by a large clearance, especially in and against the working direction, so that a slight tilting of the side plate on an axis parallel or co-axial to the rotary axis is possible only to a very limited extent. In other words, the side plate can be tilted in the working direction so that the tip area can be swivelled upwards out of a milling bed or downwards into a milling bed to a limited extent. However, the clearance keeps the possible swivel area of the side plate rather small, which is therefore suitable only for very small milling widths. In particular, for large milling depths, the side plate bearing can suffer severe stress due to canting, up to the destruction of individual bearing elements, which can be attributed to the known design of the guide elements for height adjustment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a side plate arrangement for a milling device which enables improved sealing results when traversing obstacles and when moving in and out of a milling bed, and which is particularly suitable for use at large milling depths.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the side plate arrangement for a milling device comprises a milling roller box arranged on a frame of the milling machine with a height-adjustable side plate, a side plate support containing a swivel bearing having a swivel axis around which the side plate can be swivelled against the frame in a swivel area, and a swivel guide for guiding a swivel movement of the side plate with a guide curve running at least partially concentrically to the swivel axis of the swivel bearing. Frame in this context means the component or component group of the milling machine which carries the milling roller box. It can be, e.g., the machine frame. The side plate comprises an essentially closed sealing surface and is normally arranged on one of the front sides of the milling roller box with reference to the milling rotor arranged transverse to the travel direction. Preferably, one respective side plate is arranged on each of the opposite sides of the milling roller box. The task of the side plate is to seal the inner space of the milling roller box on the front side of the milling rotor. To achieve optimum sealing results with different milling depths, the side plate is mounted on the milling roller box such that its height can be adjusted. For example, suitable guide devices are available for this purpose that enable height adjustment of the side plate. The side plate can also be connected to a lifting device, e.g., a cylinder-piston unit, which enables lifting of the side plate on the milling roller box. This is advantageous during the transport or shunting of the milling machine, so that in these situations the side plate may not slide over the ground surface.

The essential aspect of the present invention is that according to the present invention, the swivelling capacity of the side plate is improved. Swivelling capacity means a rotary or swivel movement of the side plate around a swivel axis, wherein the swivel axis is preferably parallel or co-axial to the rotary axis of the milling rotor and therefore runs transverse to the working direction. Hence, the swivel axis is also at a horizontal level and across the travel- or working direction to the milling machine designed especially as self-propelled. The area within which the side plate can be swivelled around the swivel axis is called the swivel area. The swivel area can vary sharply, depending on the design model. A swivel area with reference to a level that is vertical to the swivel axis is preferably at an angle >15°, more preferably >30° and most preferably >40°. The swivel area denotes a swivel movement of the side plate from the maximum at front to the maximum in the rear swivel position of the side plate. This way, even for comparably bigger milling depths or in and out movements of the side plate from the milling bed, excellent sealing results can be achieved, as the side plate can assume very steep swivel positions with reference to its sealing position on a horizontal base. Large milling depths in the context of cold milling or road milling means milling depths greater than 200 mm and especially greater than 250 mm; for recyclers and stabilisers, for example, greater than 250 mm and especially greater than 350 mm.

The elements with the help of which the side plate is mounted on the milling roller box are denoted hereafter as side plate support. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the side plate support covers the swivel bearing, which is designed such that the side plate can be swivelled against the frame in the swivel area about the swivel axis. The pivot point of the side plate therefore lies in the swivel bearing. An essential element according to one embodiment for providing for the swivelling capacity of the side plate is therefore the side plate support, via which the side plate is mounted on the frame and especially on the milling roller box, with the side plate support having a swivel bearing with a swivel axis, around which the side plate can swivel against the frame in the swivel area. A part of the side plate support is thus the swivel bearing, which denotes a bearing that, on the one hand, performs a bearing function for the side plate and, on the other hand, fulfils a guide function with regard to the swivel movement of the side plate. On the whole, the side plate can therefore be swivelled around the swivel axis and preferably its height can also be adjusted simultaneously, especially linearly, which movements can be carried out jointly and separately.

The present invention distinguishes itself in that the swivel bearing is designed in such a way that the side plate can swivel within the swivel area around the swivel axis, without tensing or canting against individual bearing elements. Further, the swivel movement is nearly independent of the respective position of the side plate in the vertical direction. The side plate support has a swivel guide for this purpose, for guiding the swivel movement of the side plate with a guide curve which runs at least partly concentrically around the rotary axis of the rotary bearing. Concentrically means at a level that is orthogonal to the swivel axis, i.e., normally in the vertical plane of the working direction of the milling machine. At least partially means that the guide curve of the swivel guide need not necessarily run concentrically over the entire swivel area and at all positions of the side plate, although this is preferred. The guide curve can also be designed such that in certain positions of the side plate relative to the milling roller box, it can run on a track that is concentric to the swivel axis. What is essential according to one embodiment is that at least beginning from a start position of the side plate, the swivel guide works concentrically to the swivel axis of the swivel bearing. The swivel guide distinguishes itself in that it guides the swivel movement of the side plate on a pre-determined swivel track and the side plate cannot execute its swivel movement arbitrarily. For this, for example, a guide element such as a stop pin moves along the guide curve. The swivel movement according to the present invention has the advantage that the swivel movement of the side plate is considerably facilitated and is possible over a large swivel area. Thus, comparatively steep angles of the side plate can be achieved, so that particularly when moving in and out of deep milling beds, or while traversing obstacles with large milling depths, the side plate can still achieve good sealing results. The working angle here is the adjustment angle of the side plate around the swivel axis, starting from the horizontal position, in which the side plate is positioned on the horizontal ground.

As mentioned above, the side plate is designed such that its height can be adjusted against the machine frame. Height adjustment thus takes place at least against the frame, but preferably also against the remaining elements of the milling roller box. For a smooth and obstacle-free use of the side plate, it is important that it can be swivelled at different positions in the vertical direction. Therefore the swivel bearing of the side plate support or the pivot point around which the side plate rotates can preferably also be moved vertically between a low position and a high position. The low position thus is the maximum adjustment of the swivel bearing in the vertically downward direction or towards the floor. The high position in contrast, corresponds to the position of the swivel bearing at the maximum height upwards. The swivel bearing can be adjusted continuously between the high and low positions. The side plate can also be swivelled around the swivel axis at the high position as well as at the low position. The swivel guide in this case is preferably designed in such a way that it comprises a part which has a swivel guide working concentrically to the swivel axis of the swivel bearing in the low position. The swivel guide in this embodiment is specially designed for the downward position of the side plate, and it enables a swivel movement of the side plate in the low position of the swivel bearing, especially an upward swivelling of the tip area of the swivel bearing lying in or against the working direction. The swivel movement of the side plate with the help of the guide curve running concentrically to the swivel axis is particularly relevant in the low position of the swivel plate, because in this situation, the steepest working angle of the side plate occurs frequently, and a guidance of the side plate is crucial. It is therefore preferred that the pivot point of the side plate must be arranged as low on the side plate as possible, i.e., towards the floor.

During working operation, the side plate is usually placed in a floating position on the ground surface, i.e., the side plate lies on the floor and is not held in position in the vertical direction actively by a height adjustment device. The side plate can, for example, have a corresponding sliding skid which enables homogeneous sliding over the ground. To avoid a sliding of the side plate in the downward direction, which can happen, for example, if the working angle is very steep, or if there are edges in the milling area or also when lifting the machine frame, e.g., over appropriate lifting columns, the side plate arrangement according to the present invention comprises a lowering stop which is designed in such a way that it limits the downward movement of the side plate in the vertical direction. From the functional standpoint, the lowering stop is therefore a part of an arresting device which ensures that the side plate cannot be lowered arbitrarily in the vertical direction. The lowering stop comprises a stop edge against which a suitable stop element can impact effectively when the side plate is lowered. In other words, the lowering stop defines the maximum lowering of the side plate.

Multiple alternatives are possible for the specific design of the lowering stop. Preferably, however, the lowering stop is also a part of the swivel guide at the same time. In this embodiment, the lowering stop performs a dual function. This objective can be achieved via a lowering stop with a curved stop edge, such that the guide curve running concentrically to the swivel axis of the swivel bearing also represents the lowering stop. The lowering stop therefore takes over not only the blocking or path-limiting function with regard to the lowering of the side plate, but also, at least in the maximum lowered or deep position of the swivel bearing of the side plate, the guidance function of the side plate for a swivel movement.

In principle, the lowering stop can be arranged with its stop edge on the side plate and cooperate with a stopping element arranged on the milling roller box side. Preferably, however, a lowering stop is arranged on the milling roller box, and the side plate has an element that impacts against the lowering stop, for example, a guide element protruding from the side plate surface, which is designed for stopping at the guide curve, such as, for example, a pin bolt. The lowering stop is therefore especially preferably a part of a side plate wrap-around. The side plate wrap-around encloses the edge of the side plate partially and is an integral part of a vertical guide which enables a controlled height adjustment of the side plate. The side plate wrap-around further ensures that the side plate is always kept adjacent to the milling roller box during a height adjustment and/or swivelling, and not, e.g., as during the curved travel of the milling machine, pressed away from the milling roller box. The side plate wrap-around thus ensures that the side plate represents an extension of the respective side wall of the milling roller box.

Practice has shown that exceeding a certain maximum working angle of the side plate can be disadvantageous. To avoid this, the swivel guide preferably has at least one swivel limit, which restricts the swivel area of the swivel plate at least in one swivel direction. Swivelling of the side plate is therefore not free in at least one swivel direction but is limited to a maximum adjustment angle. A swivel limit can in principle be achieved with any means which is suitable for blocking the swivel movement of the side plate beginning at a certain adjustment angle, such as a correspondingly arranged swivel stop. Ideally, the swivel limit is a part of a slotted hole guide. A slotted hole guide is especially advantageous in that it limits the movement range not only in the longitudinal direction of the slotted hole, but also in the transverse direction at the level of the slotted hole, and at the same time, it is relatively easy to implement. In addition to the slotted hole itself, the slotted hole guide naturally includes an element inserted into the slotted hole, e.g., a projection jutting out of the slotted hole, pins, etc. However, additional or alternative swivel restriction can also be achieved with the help of a side plate stop, preferably as an integral part of the side plate wrap-around.

Basically, the slotted hole guide according to the present invention should be designed such that it supports the swivel movement of the side plate within the swivel area, and at the same time, defines the limits of the swivel area. The slotted hole guide should enable these functions uniformly within the adjustment positions of the swivel bearing between the low position and the high position. The size of the slotted hole guide is therefore preferably selected such that it covers the area of a curve chart which is based at least on the swivel curves of the side plate around the pivot in the low position and the high position of the swivel bearing. The curve tracks are related especially to the element which intervenes into the slotted hole and thereby enables the guidance function, for example, a pin or a guide pin. The curve tracks particularly run concentrically to the swivel axis of the swivel plate. This ensures that the slotted hole guide is at least big enough to enable swivel guidance over the entire swivel area of the side plate when the swivel bearing is located in the low as well as high position. This embodiment is particularly suitable if the slotted hole guide is present additionally to a swivel guide which works at least partly concentrically around the swivel axis of the swivel bearing, especially a swivel guide working concentrically to the swivel axis of a swivel bearing located exclusively at the low position. Alternatively or additionally, the slotted hole guide can also have the earlier mentioned guide curve running concentrically to the swivel axis of the swivel bearing. Size of the slotted hole guide means the spatial dimensions of the slotted hole, and particularly the size of the slotted hole at the swivelling level of the side plate. A curve chart is a group of at least two curves and especially an overlap of the swivel curves of the element that intervenes into the slotted hole between the low and the high positions of the swivel bearing of the slide plate.

It is preferred if the slotted hole guide is integrated in the side plate itself in the form of a recess. The guide element that intervenes into the slotted hole guide, for example, a guide pin, is then arranged appropriately on the milling roller box preferably as fixed, more preferably as a part of the side plate wrap-around. To enable the side plate to glide freely on the floor, it can be advantageous to design the side plate as light as possible. In this case, the arrangement of the slotted hole in the slotted hole arm protruding from the sealing surface of the side plate at the swivelling level in which the slotted hole is placed, has proven to be advantageous.

For the specific design of the side plate support, it is essential for it to enable a moveable arrangement of the side plate on the milling roller box in such a way that the side plate can swivel around the swivel axis as well as be adjusted vertically. Embodiments of the present invention distinguish themselves by the fact that the side plate support has a connecting element between the frame and the side plate, especially a sealing plate, and that the swivel bearing is arranged on the connecting element. The side plate is therefore at least partially not directly connected to the milling roller box, but it comprises an intermediate element via which the arrangement on the milling roller box, especially a part of the side wall of the milling roller box is achieved. In this embodiment, the side plate support therefore has a function element between the milling roller box and the side plate, which takes over the support as well as the guidance functions. Ideally, it is a sealing plate which performs a further sealing function on the milling roller box. The sealing function concentrates especially on the rear area of the milling roller box, which is frequently formed essentially of an also vertically adjustable cover plate. The sealing plate is designed such that it performs a sealing function between the sealing plate and the side plate itself. The connecting element and especially the sealing plate are preferably mounted on the milling roller box such that they can be displaced linearly. For this, the sealing plate has, for example, an L-shaped profile cross-section, with one leg stretching in the direction of the rear cover plate, and one leg stretching in the direction of the side plate surface. The leg running over the cover plate, in particular, is preferably mounted in a vertical slotted guide in the milling roller box, so that a vertical adjustment which partially tilts to the rear is obtained. The swivel bearing around which the side plate can rotate is preferably arranged at the foot of the sealing plate. On the whole, the side plate support in this embodiment is a multi-level bearing complex comprising the milling roller box as a fixed linking component, the connecting element and the side plate. The milling roller box or its support area for the connecting element is fixed on the frame of the milling machine. The connecting element can be displaced linearly and at least partially in the horizontal direction against the milling roller box. If the height of the connection element is adjusted, a height adjustment of the swivel axis of the side plate also occurs, so that the side plate either swivels or the whole side plate is adjusted vertically.

In a further aspect, the present invention relates to the use of a curved inclined slide to guide the rotary movement of a side plate, especially of a side plate or a side plate arrangement according to one of the previous embodiments. The core of this embodiment of the present invention is that the side plate can swivel freely around a swivel axis within the swivel area, and has for this purpose a swivel guide in the form of a curved inclined slide designed such that at least partially it is concentric to the swivel axis. Reference is made in this connection to the descriptions above.

Finally, the present invention also relates to a milling machine, especially a road miller, stabiliser or recycler, having a side plate arrangement according to the above-mentioned embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is explained in greater detail below with the help of the exemplary embodiments shown in the figures. The figures show schematically:

FIG. 1 is a perspective angled view of an exemplary road miller;

FIG. 2 a is a detailed side view of the side plate in an embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 b is a perspective angled view of the side plate from FIG. 2 a in a rear-angle exploded view;

FIG. 3 is a side plate from FIG. 2 a in the raised front position;

FIG. 4 is a side plate from FIG. 2 a in the raised rear position;

FIG. 5 is a side plate arrangement from FIG. 2 a with partially excluded wrap around; and

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view along line A-A from FIG. 5.

Repeating components are not designated individually in each figure again for reasons of transparency. Identical components are designated by identical reference numerals in the Figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a generic milling machine, specifically a cold miller 1, with a side plate arrangement 100′, as it is already known from the prior art. The cold miller 1 comprises a machine frame 2 on which a front wheel pair (only the right front wheel 3 is visible in FIG. 1) and a rear wheel pair (only the right rear wheel 4 is visible in FIG. 1) are arranged. Alternatively, embodiments are possible in which only one front wheel 3 is present and/or the wheels are replaced with crawler chassis. In the present embodiment, the rear wheels 4 are hinged via a lifting column 5 (only the lifting column 5 arranged on the right side is visible in FIG. 1) to the machine frame 2 and designed such that they can be height-adjusted vertically along the direction of the arrow a. Alternatively, the front wheels can also comprise lifting columns. A workstation 6 is also arranged in the rear region of the machine frame 2, on which there is a driver stand for operating the machine. To perform the milling work, the cold miller 1 comprises an essentially cylindrical milling rotor or milling roller (not visible in FIG. 1), which is arranged below the control workstation 6. The milling rotor is arranged horizontally on the machine frame 2 of the cold miller 1 with its cylindrical axis transverse to the working direction, so that a rotary axis in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is parallel to the axis of the rear wheels 4 or in the horizontal plane transverse to the working direction a. Multiple milling tools not described in greater detail are arranged on the outer shell of the milling rotor, for example, round shaft chisels, which are stored in corresponding chisel holders.

To enable milling near the edge with the cold miller 1, the rear wheel 4 lying on the side of the machine frame 2 on which the milling roller (not visible in FIG. 1) is nearly flush with the machine frame (referred to hereafter also as zero side), is configured such that it can swivel from a swivelled-out position protruding outward from the machine frame (according to FIG. 1) to a swivelled-in position, in which the rear wheel 4 is protrusion-free against the machine frame or the front side of the milling roller on the zero side. An appropriate swivel mechanism is provided on the cold miller 1 for this purpose, which is designed such that the rear wheel 4 swivels from the swivelled-out position shown in FIG. 1 to a swivelled-in position, at which the wheel including the lifting column is also swivelled into the corresponding frame recess 7.

A combustion engine is present for driving the machine functions, particularly the front wheels 3 and/or the rear wheels 4, as well as the swivel mechanism and the rotary movement of the milling roller. It provides drive energy to a hydraulic system not described further.

The milling roller arranged below the control workstation 6 is surrounded at front, in the rear and at the top at least partially by a device referred to in its entirety as milling roller box 8. In addition to the fixed elements and the elements connected directly or indirectly to the machine frame 2, the milling roller box 8 comprises wall elements that can be adjusted vertically downwards, specifically a rear cover plate 9, a front cover plate not visible in FIG. 1 and one side plate 10 on each side of the cold miller 1 or outside the two front sides in the axial direction of the milling rotor (only the side plate 10 on the right side in the travel direction a is visible in FIG. 1). These wall elements, which are height-adjustable against the components arranged on the frame (9 and 10 inter alia), perform the task of sealing the milling roller box 8 towards the floor, especially at different milling depths. To make a clear differentiation between the mobile and the fixed parts of the housing of the milling roller, the fixed components are referred to hereafter as milling roller box, and the adjustable elements, such as the side plate 10, are referred to separately.

Sealing of the milling roller space by the side plate 10 is of particular significance when travelling over obstacles and/or when moving in and out of an existing milling bed. The present invention particularly relates to this aspect, and details of the present invention will be explained below by reference to the already explained embodiment as shown in FIG. 1.

During milling operation, the side plate 10 lies on the ground and is so to speak dragged with the machine in a “floating” condition. The maximum adjustment of the side plate in the vertical direction b is limited by a stop element 11 on the milling roller box 8, against which a stop nose 12 in the side plate 10 impacts coming from the top. The side plate 10 is mounted on the fixed part of the milling roller box via a sealing plate not denoted in greater detail in FIG. 1, with the sealing plate reaching into a slit 13 and partially sealing the milling roller box to the rear too. The side plate is mounted on the sealing plate with the help of a pin guided through a hole 14. Swivel movements of the side plate 10 are, especially in the position shown in FIG. 1, possible only to a very limited extent, if at all, since, for example, the stop element 11 blocks the stop nose 12 towards the rear. This eventually leads to the fact that especially in the low position of the side plate, i.e., in the position in which the side plate 10 comes from the top and impacts against the stop point in the downward direction, the side plate 10 can be moved only to a very limited extent, or considerable material loads, especially on the bearing pins, can occur, if the tip of the side plate 10 is lifted in the direction of travel, as is the case, for example, when it slides out of a milling bed or as it traverses an obstacle. Swivel movements of the side plate are therefore, if at all, possible only due to the existing clearance in the side plate support. As the side plate 10 in FIG. 1 rotates over the stop element when being lifted, the side plate 10 can be swivelled to a relevant extent only if there is an increasing upward movement, in which case the swivel area is very small due to the stop element 11 blocking the stop nose, and, if at all, is designed to overcome relatively small vertical obstacles. At this side plate 10, especially in the area of the guide element “Hole 14 and pin”, increased tensions occur in this element even at low height differences or low swivel movements of the side plate 10, due to the hardly existing swivel path of the side plate.

The present invention avoids this problem with a specific arrangement of the side plate support 100, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 a to 6 in greater detail. The essential characteristic of the present invention lies in the fact that the support 100 of the side plate 10 is arranged such that not only the vertical adjustment of the side plate, but also a swivelling of the side plate 10, guided particularly in the low position of the rotary bearing is possible within a swivel area, where in the swivel area lies ideally in the range >15°, preferably >30° and more preferably >40°, independently of the positioning of the side plate 10 in the vertical direction. Specification of the swivel area here denotes the angular adjustment of the side plate 10 around a swivel axis 21 between its two maximum swivel positions in the swivel plane. This property is enabled through the special structure of the side plate support 15, with a swivel bearing 16 and a swivel guide 17 a and 17 b, whose structure and functioning is described further by reference to the following embodiment from FIGS. 2 a to 6.

The design of the side plate 10 is essentially plain and it is arranged as lying on one side wall of the milling roller box 8. The lower edge of the side plate 10 has a skid 23, which sits on the ground surface during operation. To facilitate the floating movement of the side plate 10, e.g., while passing obstacles, while moving in and out of the milling bed, etc., the skid 23 is bent upwards at the front and the rear in the working direction a. FIGS. 2 a to 6 show the side plate 10 arranged on the right side of the milling roller box 8, in the working direction. Another side plate is arranged on the opposite left side, which essentially has the same structure and design (except that the reversed arrangement). For reasons of transparency, the structure and functioning of the present invention is explained in greater detail with reference to the right side plate 10 only.

The swivel bearing 16 generally designates the area in which the side plate 10 is mounted on the milling roller box 8. In the present embodiment, the swivel bearing 16 comprises several elements for this purpose. Crucial is first of all that the side plate 10 is only partially mounted directly on the milling roller box 8. In the area of the swivel axis 21, the side plate 10 is connected to the milling roller box 8 via a sealing plate 18. The sealing plate 18 is positioned on the milling roller box 8 in a corresponding slot 19 linearly, such that its height can be adjusted. In detail, the slot is essentially a longitudinal section that extends in the vertical direction in the fixed part of the milling roller box 8, through which a part of the sealing plate 18 is inserted for guidance purposes. An essential function of the sealing plate 18, in addition to the support- and guide function for the side plate, is to seal the inner space 20 of the milling roller box 8 containing the milling rotor 13, especially in the transition area between the side plate 10 and the rear cover plate.

At the sealing plate 18, which is designed such that it can be adjusted vertically, the side plate 10 is mounted in such a way that it can swivel around a swivel axis 21. The swivel axis 21 runs transverse to the working direction a in the horizontal plane or parallel or coaxial to the rotary axis of the milling rotor 13 of the cold miller 1. The term swivel axis 21 in this context on the one hand designates the geometrical swivel axis or the rotary axis of the side plate against a sealing plate 18. However, the swivel axis 21 also designates a physical bearing element which is a part of the swivel bearing 16. For this, a pin connection with the sealing plate 18 is provided, which is inserted into the side plate via a slotted hole 22. The longitudinal axis of the slotted hole 12 runs in the working direction a, if the side plate 10 is horizontal. As the pin opening in the side plate 10 is designed as a slotted hole, a certain clearance along the slotted hole axis is enabled, which together with the guide curve running concentrically to the swivel axis 21 and described in greater detail below, eventually enables a smooth and obstacle-free swivelling of the side plate.

The swivel movement of the side plate 10 from FIG. 2 a around the swivel axis 21 is not free but rather guided by the swivel guide 17. The swivel guide 17 comprises several individual components that are explained separately below. What is important for understanding the design and effect of the swivel guide 17 in this embodiment is that it enables the simultaneous movement of several individual components against one another. On the one hand, the swivel position of the side plate 10 depends on the height of the side plate, and particularly the swivel bearing 16 of the side plate 10. Height adjustment on the one hand occurs actively through a lifting device linked to the side plate, specifically through a cylinder piston unit 24. With the help of the cylinder-piston unit 24 arranged between the machine frame or the milling roller box 8 and the side plate 10, the side plate 10 can, for example, be lifted actively, so that the skid 23 of the side plate 10 is not in contact with the ground any more. This is desirable, especially during shunting movements, if the side plate 10 is not supposed to be dragged over the ground. The suspension of the side plate 10 on the cylinder-piston unit 24 is designed such that the side plate 10 is nearly perfectly balanced. When the piston moves into the cylinder of the cylinder-piston unit 24, the side plate 10 is therefore lifted nearly horizontally or in a swivel position, as specified e.g., in FIGS. 2 a and 2 b. On the other hand, the lateral adjustment of the side plate can vary depending on the milling depth FT. During milling operation, the side plate 10 usually sits on the ground and is carried in floating condition with reference to its height. This means that the side plate 10 is not maintained at its height actively but instead always, at least partially, assumes a vertical position in contact with the floor. In this case, the side plate 10 is restricted by the side plate support 15, especially in its position in the working direction a, and in the axial direction of the milling motor, but not in the vertical direction.

An essential characteristic of the present side plate arrangement 100 is illustrated especially in situations in which the skid of the lowered side plate 10 does not sit on plain ground but encounters an obstacle with its front or rear tip area. In such situations, the side plate 10 swivels around the swivel axis 21. In principle, two maximum adjustment positions can be defined with reference to the swivel axis 21 that can be adjusted vertically via the sealing plate 18, which maximum adjustment positions are compared with each other in FIGS. 3 and 4.

In FIG. 3, the swivel bearing 16 of the side plate 10 or the swivel axis 21 is in the so-called low position. The low position is the lowest position in the vertical direction, or positioning towards the floor of the swivel bearing 16. The low position can in principle be determined, for example, through a travel restriction of the cylinder-piston unit 24. In the present embodiment, however, the low position of the swivel bearing 16 (i.e., the lowest possible arrangement in the vertical direction against the milling roller box 8) is reached through a stop as a part of the swivel guide 17. For this, the swivel guide 17 has a side plate wrap-around 25, which wraps around the border area of the side plate 10 partially and thus prevents a displacement of the side plate 10 along the axial direction of the swivel axis 21. The side plate wrap-around 25 is designed such that it is connected rigidly to the milling roller box 8 and, as is visible in FIGS. 2 b and 6, in particular, overlaps the surface of the side plate 10 with the wrap-around leg 25 a.

The specific design of the side plate wrap-around 25 also comprises a connection element 25 b (FIG. 6), which connects the wrap-around leg 25 a with the wall element of the milling roller box 8. The thickness of the connection element 25 b in the axial direction of the swivel axis 21 is approximately one-and-a-half times greater than the thickness of the side plate 10 in this area. The upper side of the wrap-around leg 25 a has an inclined slide 26, with the inclined slide also performing a stop function for a stop pin 32 on the side plate 10, in addition to a guide function explained in greater detail below. The stop pin 32 is connected rigidly with the side plate 10 and it projects outwards from its outer surface in the axial direction and thus overlaps the inclined slide 26 from the top. Upon lowering the side plate 10, the inclined slide 26 thus represents a travel restriction in the direction of lowering of the side plate 10, and the stop pin impacts against the inclined slide 26. As soon as the stop pin 32 is in contact with the inclined slide 26, the swivel bearing 16 reaches its low position. It must be emphasized here that the contour or the spatial run of the inclined slide 26 is not designed arbitrarily but, on the contrary, has a defined course. The inclined slide 26 specifically extends in the swivel direction with its sliding surface concentric to the swivel axis 21 of the swivel bearing 16 located in the low position. This is shown in FIG. 3 through the indicated circular track KB1, whose centre is defined by the swivel axis 21. If the side plate 10 swivels around the swivel axis, the stop pin 25 slides along the slide surface 26 running concentrically to the pivot point of the side plate 10, without its movement being hindered by the inclined slide 26, nor the position of the swivel axis of the swivel bearing being changed. The swivel movement is instead restricted by the wall of the connecting element 25 b lying in the swivel path, against which the side plate impacts, as will be clear from FIG. 3, only in a strong swivel position.

Besides the low position, the swivel bearing 16 of the side plate 10 can also be adjusted to the high position. The high position in this context reflects the adjusting position of the swivel bearing 16 in the vertical direction, in which it reaches its maximum upward displaced position. The high position is almost reached in FIG. 4 and is, for example, defined by the length of the slot guide 19 or the corresponding design of the part of the sealing plate 18 which engages into the slot guide 19. Additionally or alternatively, other stop elements can also be provided, for example, as a part of the side plate wrap-around 25, which limit the upward adjustment of the swivel bearing vertically.

In the high position according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the stop pin 25 is no longer attached to the slide slope 26 of the side plate wrap-around 25. However, for this position of the swivel bearing 16 too, a guide device running at least nearly concentrically to the swivel axis is available for the side plate. The guide device is a part of a slotted hole guide 27, comprising especially a guide arm 28, a curved slotted hole 29 in this guide arm 28 and a pin 31 guided in the slotted hole 29 (FIG. 2 b). The guide arm 28 is a part of the side plate 10 and is arranged on the part of the side plate 10 opposite to the swivel bearing 16, spaced from the swivel axis 21 and in the travel direction in front of the swivel axis 21. A guide pin is also guided by the slotted hole 29 (not visible in the figure), which is permanently connected to the milling roller box 8 via another side plate wrap-around 30. As further illustration, FIGS. 3 and 4 depict the position of the longitudinal axis of the guide pin 31, which runs parallel to the swivel axis 21, designated by reference numeral 31. Even the design of the curved slotted hole 29 fulfils certain conditions and is, particularly with regard to the size and course of the slotted hole 29, not arbitrary. The essential requirement is that the slotted hole includes a curve chart of swivel curves that lie on a circular track KB2 in the low position (FIG. 3) and in the high position (FIG. 4) concentric to the swivel axis 21. The distance of the circular track KB2 from the swivel axis 21 is defined specifically by the longitudinal axis 31 of the guide pin which projects through the curved slotted hole 29. Here, the slotted hole 29 can be designed such that a part of its contour also runs concentrically to the swivel axis 21 at least in the low and/or high position of the swivel bearing 16. The slotted hole therefore also fulfils the characteristic “guide curve 26 running concentrically to the swivel axis 21 of the swivel bearing 16”. Thus, in an alternative embodiment of the present invention, it is, for example, also possible to omit the elements of the swivel bearing that work together with the side plate wrap-around 25. On the whole, the present arrangement ensures that the side plate 10 can be guided along the circular track KB2 in the high as well as low position within the slotted hole 29. The curved slotted hole 29 together with the guide arm 28 and the guide pin therefore also represents a guiding device for the swivel plate 10 running concentrically to the swivel axis 21.

FIGS. 3 and 4, in particular, illustrate the advantageous effects of the embodiment of a side plate arrangement according to the present invention, particularly when traversing an obstacle 33 jutting out of the ground in the vertical direction. This can be the case, for example, if an existing milling bed is approached from outside with milling device 1 or the device is taken out of a milling bed or also if projections and/or obstacles lying at the front side of the milling rotor are passed. Such obstacles are distinguished in general by the fact that they protrude from the ground 34 in the vertical direction and therefore, represent objects that must be overcome by the side plate 10 at height H. FIGS. 3 and 4 show a cut-out of a manhole element 32 as an example of such an obstacle, which must be passed nearly aligned and at constant milling depth, i.e., without height adjustment of the milling rotor 13.

Starting from the normal position of the side plate 10, in which the skid 33 of the side plate 10, sits horizontally on the ground and the swivel bearing 16 is in the low position, as shown in FIG. 2, the side plate 10 with its tip first impacts against the obstacle 33 while continuing the milling job in the working direction a. As the tip area of the skid 23 is raised, the side plate with its tip area is pressed upwards by the obstacle 32 and the side plate swivels around the swivel axis 21 at an angle α in the direction of the arrow b (FIG. 3) upwards. The swivel bearing 16 remains in the low position initially. During the swivel movement, the stop pin 32 attached to the inclined slide 26 slides over the curved inclined slide against the working direction a on the curved track KB1, which runs concentrically to the swivel axis 21 in the swivel plane. Simultaneously, axis 31 slides in the side plate wrap-around 30, which wraps around the guide arm 28 partially, along the curved slotted hole 29 on the curved track KB2, which also runs concentrically to the swivel axis 21 in the swivel plane.

As soon as the side plate 10 has been moved in the working direction a over the obstacle 33 far enough for its centre of gravity to lie at the height of the obstacle 33, the rear part of the side plate 10 in which the swivel bearing 16 of the side plate support 15 is arranged, is also lifted upwards vertically. For this, the sealing plate 18 moves in the slot guide 19 upwards, and it takes the swivel bearing 16 along with the side plate 10 up to the high position of the swivel bearing. During this linear lifting movement of the sealing plate 18, there is a simultaneous swivel movement of the side plate around the swivel axis 21 against the direction of the arrow b, until the side plate 10 regains its approximately horizontal position (comparable to FIG. 2, but displaced vertically in the upward direction). Although the stop pin 32 in the high position of the swivel bearing no longer sits on the inclined slide 26, the side plate 10 is still guided over the slotted hole guide 27.

As soon as the side plate 10 traverses the obstacle 33 in the working direction a to such an extent that its centre of gravity lies over the edge of the obstacle 33, the side plate 10 tilts at an angle β with its tip area in the working direction a around the swivel axis 21 downwards in the direction of the arrow c towards the ground 34, as illustrated in FIG. 4. This swivel movement is also guided by the slotted hole guide 27, whose longitudinal extension runs along the circular track KB2. As soon as the side plate 10 has traversed the obstacle 33 fully, the sealing plate 18 also slides in the slot guide downwards until the side plate 10 with the longitudinal side of its skid 23 rests on the ground 34, or the swivel bearing is in the low position in which the stop pin 32 impacts against the inclined slide 26 and a further displacement of the swivel bearing or the sealing plate in the downward direction is prevented.

FIGS. 5 and 6 further illustrate design details of the side plate support 15. FIG. 5 displays a cut-out as a through-view of the sealing plate 18 through the side plate 10. FIG. 6 is a sectional view along the line A-A from FIG. 5 and it illustrates especially the arrangement of side plate 10, sealing plate 18 and milling roller box 8 relative to each other. Both figures concern the low position of the swivel bearing 16, as shown, for example, in FIG. 2. FIG. 6, in particular, clarifies how the side plate wrap-around 25 is designed in the form of a fork-shaped element, which partially wraps around the edge area of the side plate 10 oriented towards the rear and thus, achieves a positional stability in the axial direction of the swivel axis 21.

While the present invention has been illustrated by description of various embodiments and while those embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of Applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such details. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The present invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of Applicant's invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A side plate arrangement for a milling device, comprising: a milling roller box including a height-adjustable slide plate; a side plate support including a swivel bearing having a swivel axis, around which the side plate can be swivelled against a frame in a swivel area (α and β), with the side plate support comprising a connecting element, between the milling roller box and the side plate, and the swivel bearing being arranged on the connecting element; and a swivel guide for guiding a swivel movement (a, b) of the swivel plate with a guide curve running at least partially concentrically to the swivel axis of the swivel bearing, with the guide curve being part of a lowering stop which has a stop edge and which restricts the vertical adjustment of the side plate in the downward direction.
 2. A side plate arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the swivel bearing can be adjusted between a low position and a high position, and that the guide curve of the swivel guide comprises a section, which runs concentrically exclusively to the swivel axis of the swivel bearing in the low position.
 3. A side plate arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the lowering stop is part of a side plate wrap-around, which partially wraps around the side plate and is part of a vertical guide.
 4. A side plate arrangement according to claim 1, wherein a protruding guide element is arranged on the side plate, which is designed for attachment to the guide curve.
 5. A side plate arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the swivel guide has at least one swivel limitation, which restricts the swivel area of the side plate in at least one swivel direction (a, b).
 6. A side plate arrangement according to claim 5, wherein the swivel limitation is a part of a slotted hole guide.
 7. A side plate arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the slotted hole guide has a guide curve which runs concentrically to the swivel axis of the swivel bearing at least in the low position of the swivel bearing.
 8. A side plate arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the size of the slotted hole of the slotted hole guide is selected such that, it covers the area of a curve chart, which is derived from swivel curves (KB2) of the side plate in the low and high positions of the swivel bearing.
 9. A side plate arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the connecting element is mounted on the milling roller box such that it is essentially linearly adjustable.
 10. A method of using a swivel guide with a guide track running at least partially concentrically to the swivel axis the swivel bearing of the side plate, according to claim 1 for guiding a swivel movement of the side plate.
 11. A machine including a side plate arrangement according to claim
 1. 12. A side plate arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the connecting element comprises a sealing plate.
 13. A milling machine according to claim 1, wherein the milling machine comprises a road miller, a stabiliser or a recycler. 